The Nintendo Switch 2 officially goes on sale tonight, with midnight launches taking place across the US. Whether you missed out on pre-orders or are just hoping to grab one at launch, you have a chance.
Best Buy and GameStop are holding midnight events, Target’s running launch-day promos from 8 a.m. with giveaways, and some Walmart stores may open early with limited in-store stock. Sam’s Club and Costco are also expected to have consoles on shelves, but availability will vary by location.
There’s still no confirmed online restock, though Walmart and Best Buy listings hint at a possible drop on launch day. Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about each retailer’s launch plans, from midnight openings to in-store stock.
Read more: For UK stock follow our live updates here
Where can you pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 in the US?
- Walmart: Out of stock as of April 24
- Nintendo: Invitations sent out on 8 May
- Best Buy: Out of stock as of April 24
- GameStop: Out of stock as of April 24, potentially available to pre-order in-store
- Target: Out of stock as of April 24
- Sam’s Club: Out of stock
- Amazon: Pre-orders not yet live
- Costco: Out of stock
How to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 in the US
Nintendo
Nintendo opened Switch 2 pre-orders on May 8 through an invite-only system. If you missed out, you can still register your interest on the My Nintendo Store, but not everyone’s eligible. To be considered, you’ll need an active 12-month Switch Online membership and at least 50 hours of gameplay on your linked account.
Invitations are still being sent out, though they’re rare. If you receive one, you’ll be able to head straight to the product listing, log in, and check out (assuming it hasn’t already sold out).
For those without an invitation, your best chance to purchase a Switch 2 on launch day is through select retailers like Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart.
Walmart
Walmart isn’t doing a traditional midnight launch, but if you’re in a Pacific or Mountain Time zone, you can start shopping in-store from 9pm PDT / 10pm MDT on Wednesday, June 4 — yep, the night before. For everyone else, most stores open from 6am local time on June 5, but stock and timing will vary, so it’s worth calling ahead.
Online listings still say “Coming soon” with a June 5 release date, which usually hints at a timed drop. We’d recommend checking back around midnight ET just in case. If you’ve already pre-ordered, Walmart’s promised delivery by 9am local time on launch day — assuming your order didn’t get cancelled in the recent system cancellations.
Target
You won’t have to stay up late if you’re heading to Target. Stores open at 8am local time on June 5, but you can start lining up earlier. Staff will be handing out digital and physical tickets to people in the queue. If you get a ticket, you’ll be reserved a console. Ticketing stops either when Target runs out or 10 minutes before opening, whichever comes first. Stock is limited, so don’t bank on being able to casually walk in and get one.
There won’t be any online availability on launch day itself, but Target says it will restock the console and bundle online on Friday, June 6. If you miss out in-store, that’s your next best shot.
Best Buy
Best Buy is hosting a midnight launch for the Switch 2, and most stores are taking part. Doors open at 12:01am ET on June 5 (that’s 11:01pm CT, 10:01pm MT, and 9:01pm PT). Expect lines to form early, especially with walk-in stock confirmed (though limited). If you’re lucky, you might also walk away with a commemorative coin.
Don’t bother checking online. Best Buy’s confirmed there will be no online stock for the console, only for games and accessories. If you’ve pre-ordered, you’ve already chosen between home delivery or in-store pickup. And if you’re a My Best Buy Plus or Total member, there’s a bonus offer: you’ll earn a $20 reward for every $150 you spend on Nintendo gear, up to $100.
GameStop
GameStop’s midnight launch kicks off early. Stores open from 3pm local time on June 4, with Switch 2 pre-orders ready for pickup at 9pm PT / 12am ET. Didn’t pre-order? You’re not out of luck — GameStop says more consoles will be available at midnight for walk-ins. And yes, Pro members get a free can of Red Bull while they wait (limit one, obviously).
There’s also a trade-in promo running. You can get 40 per cent extra credit on any games traded toward Switch 2 titles or accessories through May 31.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club members can buy the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle in stores on June 5, but not every location’s guaranteed to have stock. Best shout is to ring your local store before heading over.
Stores open at 8am for Plus members and 10am for everyone else, so plan accordingly. Quantities are unknown so if you’re giving it a go, go early.
Costco
Costco’s got a launch-day bundle that includes the Switch 2, Mario Kart World and a 12-month Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. It’ll be available in select warehouses on June 5, but not everywhere, so give your local warehouse a ring first.
You’ll need a membership to buy it, obviously. The listing is marked “coming soon” on Costco’s site too, so there’s a chance it’ll go live online on launch day.
We got a first look at the Nintendo Switch 2 — read our hands-on review
